Smalt vs Otter.ai
An Otter alternative that doesn't join your calls
Smalt is a Mac app that takes meeting notes from your microphone and your Mac's audio, transcribes them on the Mac, and saves them as files. No bot asks to join, nothing is uploaded, and there's no monthly plan.
The short version
Otter is a cloud meeting assistant for business teams: speaker names, sharing, CRM sync, an agent that joins calls. Smalt is for one person on a Mac who wants the notes without a bot in the meeting and without their calls stored on a server.
Side by side
| Smalt | Otter.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, all your Macs | Free (300 min a month), Pro from $8.33 a month billed yearly |
| Bot joins the call | Never | Yes by default; the desktop app can record without one |
| Where speech is transcribed | On your Mac | In the cloud |
| Where notes are kept | Markdown files on your Mac | Otter's servers |
| Account | None | Required |
| Speaker names | Me and Others only | Yes |
| Answers during the call | From folders you choose, optional | Yes, Otter's meeting agent |
| Dictation into any app | Yes | Not offered |
| Sharing, CRM, Zapier | No | Yes |
| Languages | 25 European languages | 6 |
| Platforms | macOS 14.4+, Apple Silicon | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
Choose Otter if
- You need each speaker named in the transcript.
- Your team shares notes and syncs them to Salesforce or HubSpot.
- You record on the web, Windows or your phone.
Choose Smalt if
- You don't want a bot in your client's meeting.
- You don't want your calls stored on someone else's server.
- You speak Italian, Dutch, Polish, Ukrainian or another European language Otter doesn't cover.
- You also want dictation, and answers from your own documents during the call.
Questions
Does Smalt join my Zoom calls like Otter's bot?
No. Smalt records your microphone and your Mac's audio, so nothing joins the call. It works with Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, FaceTime and Slack.
Does Smalt identify speakers like Otter?
No. Smalt marks each line as Me or Others. Otter recognizes individual speakers.
Is there a minutes limit?
No. Smalt has no minute limits, and it is free. Otter's free plan has 300 minutes a month and 30 minutes per conversation.
Which languages does Smalt transcribe?
25 European languages. Otter lists English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese.
Otter facts checked on 21 October 2026 from otter.ai/pricing and otter.ai. Spot something out of date? Write to feedback@getsmalt.com.